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The differences between substitute paraprofessionals and instructional assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an instructional assistant has an average salary of $32,170, which is higher than the $28,914 average annual salary of a substitute paraprofessional.
The top three skills for a substitute paraprofessional include instructional support, math and classroom environment. The most important skills for an instructional assistant are CPR, math, and instructional materials.
| Substitute Paraprofessional | Instructional Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,914 | $32,170 |
| Hourly rate | $13.90 | $15.47 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 46,060 | 50,185 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The man who is highly acclaimed working in the education field is simply known as the substitute paraprofessional. These professionals are education workers who help licensed teachers in student administration.
An instructional assistant's role is to assist teachers and faculty members by performing various tasks. Their responsibilities will involve managing and monitoring the classroom environment, crafting visual aids and informative presentations, preparing laboratories and equipment, grading papers, recording data, and organizing schedules. An instructional assistant may also teach short courses when a teacher is not around, and provide tutorial sessions to small groups. Furthermore, they may also perform administrative tasks such as producing progress reports and necessary documentation, taking attendance, and responding to calls and correspondence.
Substitute paraprofessionals and instructional assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substitute Paraprofessional | Instructional Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,914 | $32,170 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $35,000 | Between $23,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pacifica, CA | Salem, OR |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a substitute paraprofessional and an instructional assistant in terms of educational background:
| Substitute Paraprofessional | Instructional Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between substitute paraprofessionals' and instructional assistants' demographics:
| Substitute Paraprofessional | Instructional Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.2% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 8.2% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |